Sign



Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGN Ross F. Paullet, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application March 16, 1939, Serial No. 252,127

4 Claims.

This invention relates to renewable signs for displaying advertisements, notices and other information in conspicuous places.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a permanent sign frame arranged to receive a removable panel carrying the display.

Another object is the provision of a renewable sign and frame that may be permanently located where there is not suificient end clearance for the lateral insertion or removal of the sign panel, as where a number of frames are aligned in juxtaposition or a. frame is erected between buildings.

Another object is the provision of a frame for a removable sign having displays on both faces, and which will permit mounting and dismounting of the sign from one face of the frame.v

Another object is the provision of a sign frame having a socket for receiving a removable panel which is locked therein against unauthorized removal.

Another object is the provision of a sign frame having hinged marginal portions which when opened permit a panel to be inserted therein and when closed hold the panel in place.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawing a practical embodiment illustrating the principles of this invention is shown wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a sign frame having an advertising display panel held in place by hinged marginal flaps.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one corner of the structure shown in Fig. -1 showing the flaps opened and the panel removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail illustrating how the panel may be locked in the frame.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a sign illustrating a modified form of the marginal flap strips.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section of a panel being inserted into a frame having opposed pockets.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, I0 represents a sign support which may be constructed I2 and I3 and the vertical blocks I4. This frame is preferably of ornamental configuration and is a permanent part of the structure. The inner marginal edges of the frame I6 may be flush with the inner edges of the beams I2 and I Sand the blocks I4 as shown in Fig. 1 for receiving the sign panel in its socket. The bottom edge of the panel rests on the beam I3, the top edge is adjacent the beam I2, and the sides are adjacent the blocks I4. The surfaces of these members make up the panel socket. When in place the panel reenforces the framework even though it is an independent member.

The marginal edges of the panel I5 are prefer.. ably clamped and held in place by the four hinged flaps I'I, I8, I9 and 20. The flaps I1 and I8 are hinged to the inner edges of the vertical portions of the frame as indicated at 2| and the flaps I9 and are hinged to the inner edges of the upper and lower horizontal portions of the frame as indicated at 22. The ends of these flaps may be cut away as indicated at 23 so that they will overlap at the corners of the frame, permitting one of them to lock the others in place. Thus the flap I1 is first closed on the panel I5 after it has been inserted in the frame. The flaps I9 and 20 may then be closed. The right end of these horizontal flaps are mitered to close over the mitered ends of the flap I! as illustrated in Fig. 2 and the left ends are mitered to fit under the ends of the flap I8. Thus by closing the flaps in this manner and locking the flap I8, each flap I1, I9 and 20 is held closed andthey in turn retain the adjacent marginal edge of the panel.

The fiap I8 may be locked in several ways. However, an effective method is shown in Fig. 5 by means of the through bolt 24 which is provided with a square shank 25 embedded into a mating socket in the flap I8 to keep it from rotating. The stem of the bolt passes through aligned holes in the flap, the panel I5 and the post II and its outer threaded end is cut away on opposite fiat sides as shown at 26. A look 21 having a rotary threaded portion 28 secured thereto is threaded on the bolt 24. When the lock is screwed up tight the inner end thereof extends into the countersink 29 inthe post II and the three members are tightly clamped together. A key may be insertedinto the lock at 30 and turned, causing the lock-bolt to coact with one of the flat surfaces 26 of the bolt 24 and prevent movement of the rotary threaded portion 28. A hole could be drilled through the bolt and an ordinary padlock hooked therethrough to lock these members, but it will not pull the members together satisfactorily without a nut and it is easily sawed and removed by means of a hack saw. On the other hand the type of lock shown is effective in pulling the members into clamped relation and the barrel of the lock being large and of hard steel makes it difiicult for a thief to remove and thus have access to the panel.

The flaps are preferably hinged as they are more readily operated, but the mitered ends. 23 of the flaps l'l' as illustrated in Fig. 6 may be stepped into small pockets formed in the frame and bolted, thereby providing a marginal covermg.

The flaps provide a covering of the marginal edges of the panel and aid in setting off the panel, but they may be dispensed with, in which case four or more bolts 24 are inserted through the panel and the frame to lock the former against theft.

Referring to Fig. '7 it will be noted that both of the horizontal flaps l9 and 20 have been omitted and the top beam l2 has been raised to provide a pocket 3| along the top of the sign panel. A cat walk sill or other similar member 32 has been secured along the bottom of the frame forming the pocket 33 with the horizontal beam I3 and the posts ll. Thus the top edge of the sign panel is inserted into the upper pocket 3| and then lifted high enough so that the bottom edge of the panel can be swung clear ,of the sill 32 and then lowered into the pocket 33. To facilitate handling the panel grip handles 34 may be secured thereto in inconspicuous places.

After the panel has been raised over the sill and lowered into the pocket 3.3 flaps l1 and It may then be closed and .locked in the manner shown in Fig. and the panel is held .securely in place. Again only one vertical flap or strip may be used if sufficient clearance has been provided to permit the panel to be moved sideways under the strip at the other end of the panel which has been permanently fixed to the frame.

This character .of mounting a removable panel in a sign has been found to be advantageous in many ways. It simplifies the structure of the sign framework and permits the use of different kinds of materials. The panel may be double-faced as it is exposed in the rear and another facing frame It may be secured to the black of the posts H. Thus periodically the panel maybe renewed, which has a marked value in advertising. Again the sign .may never be taken out of service for a time longer than that required to exchange panels. The work of decorating these large panels may be carried on continuously in the shop and a series of prepared panels may be displayed periodically and sometimes repeated with very little cost as compared with the present method which ordinarily consists of sending out a crew of painters to redecorate the panel or paste paper signs thereon. Bad weather does not become an item in making the out-of-cloor display and different effects maybe more readily applied in a shop than could be accomplished when the panel is in place. All of these points are paramount to the outdoor advertiser and this improved sign contributes materially to these advantages.

I claim:

1. In a sign of the character described, the combination of a frame, means in said frame defining a. socket, a removable panel arranged to be inserted into said socket, a flap secured to each side of said frame and arranged to cover the adjacent marginal edge of the panel, the ends of said flaps overlapping to permit a selected flap to maintain the other flaps in position, and means for locking the selected flap against unauthorized removal of the panel.

2. In a sign structure of the character described, the combination of a plurality of upright supports, spaced horizontal beams connecting said supports and secured against the front faces of the latter, vertical filler members secured to the supports abutting the ends of the beams, the inner edges of the beams and the filler members forming a socket with said supports, a sign panel arranged to be mounted in said socket, a frame secured to the front faces of the beams and the filler members, and flaps pivotally mounted on the inner edges of said frame and arranged when swung into overlapping engagement with the panel to fall in the plane of the frame and retain the panel in the socket.

3. In a sign structure of the character described, the combination of a plurality of upright supports, spaced horizontal beams connecting said supports and secured against the front faces of the latter, vertical filler members secured to the supports abutting the ends of the beams, the inner edges of the beams and the filler members forming a socket with said supports, a sign panel arranged to be mounted in said socket, a frame secured to the front faces of the beams and the filler members, flaps pivotally mounted on the inner edges of said frame and arranged when swung into overlapping engagement with the panel to fall in the plane of the frame and retain the panel in the socket, and means for locking at least one of the flaps in its overlapping position.

4. In a sign structure ,of the character described, the combination of a plurality of upright supports, spaced horizontal beams connecting said supports and secured against the front faces of the latter, vertical filler members secured to the supports abutting the ends of the beams, the inner edges of the beams and the filler members forming a socket with said supports, a sign panel arranged to be mounted in said socket, a frame secured to the front faces of the beams and the filler members, flaps pivotally mounted on the inner edges of said frame and arranged when swung into overlapping engagement with the panel to fall in the plane of the frame and retain the panel in the socket, and locking means extending through one of the flaps, the panel and a support to prevent unauthorized removal of the panel.

ROSS F. PAULLET. 

